Continuous filter



sept. s, 1936.

N. H. HILLER ET AL.

CONTINUOUS FILTER Filed June 20, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet V1 INVENTOR M'c'o' HMI@ Bgdwafd. M00

u' ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1936.

.N1 H. HILLER ET AL. 2,053,564

CONTINUOUS FILTER Filed June 20, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTF. 34,

v INVEN-ro k1 Q1 www am' ef Q Bdwaml B. Mdt'ae WM W1. ATTORNEYS sept. s, 1936.

N.v H. HILLER Er AL. CONTINUOUS FILTER 5 ISheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 20, I1934 Niv:

Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED v STAT-Es PATENT 4orrlcli:

CONTINUOUS FILTER Application June 20, 1934, Serial No. 731,431 10 Claims. (Cl. 21o-198) The present invention relates to lter presses of the type in which there is employed a filtering belt which passes around a rotary supporting drum having a skeleton or apertured periphery, partly immersed in a bath of the material to be filtered. The solids are deposited upon the surface of the belt as the filtrate passes through due to a differential pressure maintained between the inside and outside of the drum. The belt engages and leaves the drum surface at circumferentially spaced sections to permit the removal of the solids from the belt.

One object of the present invention is to provide a continuous lter of the drum type in which the differential pressure is maintained by delivering under pressure the iiuid to be filtered, so that it is not necessary to maintain any vacuum, .and any leakage will be outwardly rather than of air inwardly.

Another object is to provide new and improved means` for sealing the gap on the peripheral wall of the drum between the lines where the filtering belt engages and leaves the drum surface, to prevent the loss of pressure differential through the portion of the wall which is not covered by the belt.

As a feature of the invention, the sealing means is mounted on the inside of the rotary drum so that it does not interfere with the movement and positioning of the filtering belt, and so that a more compact unit results.

As another feature the sealing means is in the form of a fluid actuated valve plate pressing against that portion of the rotary drum not protected by the filtering belt.

As a further feature, the fluid to be filtered is delivered under pressure and this pressure is utilized and furnishes the power to maintain the sealing valve in position under the desired pressure.

As a further object, new and improved means are provided for removing the solids from the belt and fordelivering them to a point outside of the apparatus.

As still another feature, means are provided whereby any leakage of actuating liquid from the pressure cylinder of the sealing valve and/or any leakage through the portion of the drum acted upon by the valve plate, is discharged from the drum without coming in contact with the filtered liquid.

As a further feature, the various fluids are delivered into and out of the interior of the drum through conduits having portions extending lengthwise of the stationary axle supporting the differential pressure through said side portions. le

Ink the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, one embodiment of our invention.

In these drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one form l5 of our improved filter,

Fig. 2 is a. vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a section on a larger scale showing details of the portion shown on a smaller scale in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the4 pressure booster used for maintaining the sealing valve uid under pressure, and

Fig. 7 is a section through the solid discharging mechanism.

Although filters embodying our invention may be employed for ltering a wide variety of liquid, the specific form shown in the drawings is particularly designed for filtering distillate or other oils to remove the waxes and other solids separating out at low temperature.

In the specific embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a rotary drum I having apair of end walls I I formed with cylindrical extensions or hubs I2 which embrace a stationary axle I3, and which have suitable stuffing 1boxes into which are threaded glands I4. The

axle may be supported in any suitable manner, as for instance by supports I5.

The drum I0 is provided with a skeleton or reticulated peripheral wall I6 which may be formed of cast iron, with a series of elongated slots or apertures I1 formed therein, and extending lengthwise of said peripheral wall in grid fashion, so as to produce a series of bars around the entire circumference of saidwall. The series of bars forming the peripheral wall I6 are covered on the outside with perforated metal comprising, in the specific form shown, a

series of perforated plates I8, inset between a pair of annular shoulders'ladjacent to Athe .56

' I8 are preferably curved on their radiallyV outer sides, so that practically none of the perforations of the plates I8 are covered by said bars.

The drum I0 is enclosed in an air-tight stationary casing having stuffing box connections with the hubs I2 and forming with said drum an annular chamber 2| for receiving in separate compartments both the liquid to be ltered and the filtrate.

The drum I0 may be rotated by any suitable `means. In the construction shown, one of the hubs I2 of the drum I0 has fixed thereto a worm wheel 22a meshing with a worm 22 driven from a motor 23 suitably supported from an end wall of the casing 20.

Passing around the periphery of the drum I0 is a continuous or endless belt 24 made of pervious or filtering material such as canvas to permit the filtrate to pass therethrough while retaining the wax or other solid residue thereon. This canvas belt 24 engages a substantial circumferential portion of the drum surface and travels therewith in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2. The belt leaves the drum surface tangentlally at A, passes over rollers 25 and 25a extending lengthwise in the space 2|, then into operative relationship with a suitable scraper 26 which removes the wax residue remaining on the belt, and then over a roller 21 and into engagement with the surface of the drum at B. The casing 20 is so designed as .to allow room for these rollers on one side of the drum without unduly enlarging said casing. Preferably the casing is cylindrical and mounted eccentrically in respect to the drum to provide the space for the rollers above referred to. .The liquid to be filtered is introduced into the annular chamber 2| under pressure through an inlet pipe 28 extending lengthwise of the casing 20, and disposed close to the belt at a point above the axis of the drum I0. The pipe 28 has a series of perforations extending along its length and directed towards the belt for delivering the liquid directly upon the upwardly moving run oi' the moving belt 24, so that it flows down the surface of the moving belt towards the bottom of the chamber 2|.

/In order to maintain a substantially constant lever of unfiltered liquid in the casing 20 and to separate it from the solids removed from the belt, there-is provided a partition 30 in the lower portion of the chamber 2|, curved concentrically with respect to the peripheral wall of the drum Ill to form with the end walls of the casing 20 a comparatively thin curved trough or reservoir for the unfiltered liquid delivered through the pipe 23. The left-hand edge 3| of this plate, as shown in Fig. 2, is lower than the right-hand end, so that said edge 3| acts as a weir or overflow for the surplus liquid. The liquid overflows into the section of the chamber 2| on the-outside of and below said partition 30, and may be withdrawnffrom the casing 20 through a suitable drain pipe 32. A similar drain pipe 33 may be provided for the trough formed by the plate 30.

As the belt 24 moves with the drum I0, it submerges in the body of liquid above the partition 30, and the nitrate passes through the belt while the solids collect on the outer surface thereof and form a layer which is carried up out of the against such loss of pressure.

surface of the belt, and for' smoothing oi the layer of said' solids.

A sufficient differential pressure is maintained between the inside and outside of the drum l0 to cause the filtrate to pass through the belt 24 during the travel of the latter in the liquid, and to dry the solids on the belt above the level of the liquid. For that purpose, the casing 20 is provided at its upper side with an inlet 35 -communicating with a suitable source of supply of inert gas under pressure. The differential pressure on the inside and outside of the drum may be about 30 pounds for oil filtering, and in that case the gas may be delivered at about 45 pounds absolute and the interior of the 'drum IU may be maintained at or about atmospheric pressure or l5 pounds absolute. This pressure differential between the inside and outside of the drum I 0 may be maintained by raising or lowering either of these pressures.

i The portion of the drum between points A and B where the belt leaves the drum surface and again engages it, is not protected by the belt, and it is important to prevent loss of differential through this portion. Means are provided for sealing said portion of the drum periphery In the specific form shown, said means includes a valve disposed in the interior of the drum I0, and comprising a plate 38 connected to one or more plungers 39, two of such plungers being shown. 'I 'he plate 38 is urged radially of the drum by said plungers against the wall of the drum to seal the exposed portion of the drum I0. These plungers operate respectively in cylinders 40 extending radially of the drum `IIJ and having brackets 4I at their radially inner ends terminating in sleeve portions 42 encircling and supported by the axle I3 and fixed thereto. The cylinders 40 are supplied with a suitable fluid under pressure to force the valve plate 38 outwardly with the required force to form the seal.

This liquid may be supplied through a passage 45 in the stationary axle I3, a pipe 46 and branches 41.

The incoming liquid to be filtered and winch is delivered under pressure may be employed as the actuating fluid for the cylinders 40. For that purpose, the outer end of the conduit 45 may be connected to the booster shown in Fig. 6. This includes a casing 48 having cylinders 56 and 51 of different diameters, and a differential plunger in the form of a piston 5|! and a smaller piston 5I connected together by a stem 52. Between the pistons is a chamber 53 which may be open to the atmosphere.

The conduit 45 may be connected to the smaller pressure chamber 51, while the inlet pipe 28 may have a branch connection 58 to the larger pressure chamber 56. Due to the difference 'inl the sizes of the pistons and 5I, the pressure of the fluid in the pressure chamber 51 will be greater than the pressure of the liquid acting upon the piston 50, this boosted fluid pressure being greater than the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the drum, and sufllcient to maintain the valve plate 38 in sealing contact with the inner periphery of the drum I0. The actu ating fluid for the sealing valve may be a portion of the ltrate, so that if any of this distillate finds its way into the body of distillate being processed, it will not contaminate it to any great'extent. Theiconduit 45 may have a suitable branch connection 45a to a pump (not shown) to be operated aocaee-i in case the liquid in the hydraulic valve system has been materially reduced by leakage.

- The plate 38 is preferably trough or channel shaped and includes a bottom wall 60, end walls 6| and side walls 62 forming a chamber 63 with the inner periphery of the drum l0 wider than the distance between the points A and B. These walls are curved at their radially outer ends in conformity with the inner periphery of the drum to effect sealing contactbetween said ends and the inner periphery of the drum. Thus only the edges of the walls 6| and 62 engage the surface of the drum, and there is the minimum resistance to the rotation of the drum.

The periphery of the drum I0 is provided near its ends with radially inwardly extending flanges 65 forming annular channels 66 with the ends of said drum. The bottom wall60 of the plate 38 extends beyond the end walls 6| and has a pair of radially outwardly extending flanges 61 respectively extending into the channels 66, and spaced from the end walls 6| to form guide channels into which the flanges 65 of the drum I0 extend. The outer ends of the bottom wall 60 have a pair of radially outwardly extending anges 68 spaced from the flanges 61 and extending into the channels 66. The flanges 61 and 68 at each end of the plate 38 are connected by end walls 10 to form a collecting chamber 1|. This chamber 1| communicates with the chamber 68 through a series of holes 14 passing through the flanges 6| and 461 at one or both ends of the plate 38, so that the liquid which leaks into the chamber 63 will drain into said chamber 1 I.

In order to seal the sides of the filtering belt 24 onto the periphery of the drum I0 to prevent any substantial bypass or leakage of unfiltered liquid between the edges of said belt and said drum periphery, said periphery is provided near each end with a pair of V-shaped grooves 15 opposite the chamber 1| and communicating therewith through a series of holes 16. The differential pressure between the inside and outside of the drum I0 causes the portion of the belt 24 opposite to the grooves 15 to be drawn inwardly into said grooves as shown in Fig. 4, thereby forming an effective seal between said belt and said drum. I In order to prevent any leakage from the hydraulic cylinders 40 from finding its way into the body of filtrate in the interior of the drum I0, the cylinders are inclined with respect to the horizontal as shown, and the radially outer ends of said cylinders are enlarged for receiving glands 11, and for forming pockets 18 into which the leakage from the cylinders collects. This leakage is drawn oif through a pipe connection 19 having branch connections leading into the pockets 18 and terminating at one end in a pair of branch connections 8| and 82, the connection 8| leading into the collecting chamber 1|, while the other connection 82 extends into the channel 66 for discharging the leakage liquid into said channel from the cylinder 40 and from the chamber 1 The waste oil collected at the bottom of the channel 66 is drawn off through a pair of pipes 84 extending into said channels and branching off from a pipe 85 leading to one end of a passage 86 which extends lengthwise of the axle i3 and which is in communication atthe other end with a suitable suction pump (not shown).

'I'he filtrate collecting in the bottom of the drum i0 between the flanges 65 is drawn off through a pipe 88 extending at one end to the bottom of the drum and having be other end communicating with a passage 89 extending lengthwise of the axle I3 and communicating with a suitable suc# tion pump (not shown).

The cake of wax or other solid which is stripped or broken from the belt 24 as it passes over the rollers 25 and 25a or by the action of the scraper 26, drops onto a trough 90 extending lengthwise in the chamber 2| below and outside of the partition 30 and closing the space between said partition and the wall of the casing. It is conveyed along said trough by a screw conveyer 9| which may be driven through any suitable means, for instance by Ya shaft 02 extending outside of the casing 20 and provided with a sprocket wheel 93 driven from a sprocket wheel 94 by means of a chain 95.A The sprocketwheel 84 may be mounted on a shaft with a bevel gearv 96 which meshes with a bevel gear 91 at one end of a shaft 08, the other end having a bevel. gear |00 meshing with a bevel gear |0| mounted on the shaft of the worm 22,

The conveyer extends through the end wall into 'a casing |03, and the material is conveyed from the trough 90 into said casing |08, it falls into the lower part which communicates with a gear pumpcomprising gear wheels |04 and |05 driven by any suitable means, as for instance from theconveyershaft 92 through sprocket wheels |06 and |01 and a connecting chain. The wax or lother solid is discharged from the casing |03 by the gear pump into an outlet conduit |09 or into any suitable receiver.

In the operation of the machine, the drum with thebelt 24 are continuously rotated to submerge the belt 24 in the body of liquid in the trough'formed by the partition 30. vThe belt 24 picks up a layer of solids on as the filtrate passes through the belt. As the belt 24 moves upwardly above the liquid level, the layeris dried by'the forcing of residual liquid through the belt. As the belt moves in contact with the squeegee roll 34, the excess distillate is removed from the belt 24. The movement of the belt is continued at such speed that by the time a portion of the belt has reached the roller 25,

the solid remaining on theoutside of said po tion maybe hardened into a cake, so that curvingof the belt around the roller 25 causes some or all of thiscake to be broken off. This breaking action is continued as thebelt passes over the roller 25a; The scraper 26-removes the residue from the belt surface.

It will be noted tha the belt does not move out of the pressure chamber, that the apparatus is very compact and continuous in its operation, is easy and inexpensive to bu..d and operate, and has no parts which are A There is a very small amount of the liquid maintained in the apparatus, as the space between the partition 30 and\the drum is very thin and tl' filtrate maybe drained out'as soon as it passes through the filter web or belt. Thus the apparatus is particularly adapted'for the ltering of hot or very cold liquids, there being no large body of liquid being maintained in the apparatus and which may change in temperature before it can be filtered. As the liquid :is maintained in a closed chamber and out of contact with the atmosphere, there is no loss of volatile constituents and no liability of fire in case the liquid or vapors be combustible.'

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

l. A filter comprising a rotary drum having an apertured-periphery, a filtering belt passing parther outside thereof liable to get out of order.

tially around the periphery of said drum and engaging and leaving said drum at circumferentially spaced points, a casing encircling said drum, means for maintaining a pressure within said drum, means for delivering liquid to said casing, a fluid actuated valve for sealing the portion of the drum periphery between said points for preventing loss of diiferentialpressure through said portion, means connected to said liquid delivery means and to said fluid actuated valve and operated by pressure of incoming liquid for applying to the iluid which -actuates said valve a pressure greater than that within said casing, and means for withdrawing nitrate from the interior of said drum.

2. A filter comprising a rotary drum having an apertured periphery, end walls, and a flange extending radially inwardly from said periphery and forming with one of said end walls an annular channel, a continuous nlterlng belt passing partially around the periphery of said drum, a hydraulically actuated valve in said drum for sealing the remaining portion of said drum periphery, whereby a differential pressure between the inside and outside of said drum may be maintained, and means for delivering the leakage from said hydraulically actuated valve to said annular channel.

3. A nlter comprising a stationary axle, a rotary drum supported on said axle and having an apertured periphery, a illtering belt passing partially around the periphery of said drum, a duid actuated valve in the interior of said drum for sealing the remaining portion of the drum periphery, whereby a differential pressure may be maintained between the inside and outside of said drum, said valve including a cylinder extending radially of said drum, a sleeve connected to said cylinder, embracing said 4axle and ilxed thereto,

a plunger in said cylinder, and a plate connected to said plunger and engaging said drum periphery.

4. A nlter comprising a rotary drum having its peripheral wall provided with circumferential grooves near each end thereof, and passages connecting said grooves and the interior of said drum, a filtering belt passing partially aroundl the periphery of said drum, and means for maintaining a differential pressure between the inside and outside of said drum for forcing the material to be filtered through said belt into the interior of said drum, said differential pressure also serving to force the portion Y of the belt opposite to the grooves towards the interiorsof said grooves to eifect sealing contact between the edges of said belt and said drum.

5. In a iilter, a rotary drum, a ltering belt passing partially around said drum, a valve plate in the interior of said drum for sealing the portion of the drum periphery about which said belt does not pass, means operated by pressure of uld filtered to maintain said valve in tight engage- 'ment with said drum, means for maintaining a diilerential pressure between the inside and-outside of said drum, said drum having circumferential grooves therein near its ends and provided with passages connecting said grooves' and the interior of said drum whereby the edges of said filtering belt will be maintained in sealing contact with said drum.

8. A filter comprising a rotary drum having an apertured periphery, a. continuous ltering belt passing partially around the periphery of said drum, said belt engaging and leaving said drum at circumferentially spaced points, means for maintaining a differential pressure between the inside and outside of said drum, means operated by pressure of uid filtered for sealing the portion of the drum periphery between. said circumferential points, said drum provided near its ends with circumferential grooves and with openings establishing communication between said grooves and interior of the drum whereby the diierential pressure in the filter will maintain a sealing contact between the edges of the flltering belt and the drum.

7. In a illter, a rotary drum having an apertured periphery. a continuous filtering belt passing partially around the periphery of said drum, said belt engaging and leaving said drum at circumferentially spaced points, means for maintaining the differential pressure between the in side and outside of said drum, annular channels formed within said drum near its ends, said drum provided with openings communicating with said channel and opening out through the outer surface of the drum, means for maintaining -a pressure dierence between the interior of the channel and the exterior of the drum whereby the edges oi' said lter belt will be maintained in sealing contact with the drum.

8. In a filter, a rotary drum having an apertured periphery, a continuous ltering belt passing partially around the -periphery of said drum, said belt engaging and leaving said drum at circumferentially spaced points, means for maintaining a diierential pressure between the inside and outside of the drum, pressure iluid operated means within said drum for sealing the portion of the -,drum periphery between said points, an inlet to said iilter for iluid to be filtered, and means connecting said inlet and said sealing means whereby said sealing means will be operated by pressure of incoming liquid to be filtered.

9. In a, lter, a rotary drum having an apertured periphery, end walls, and a iiange extending radially inwardly from said periphery and forming with one of said end walls an annular channel, a continuous filtering belt passing partially around the periphery of said drum. a hydraulically actuated valve in said drum for sealing the remaining portion of said drum periphery, whereby a differential pressure between the inside and outside of said drum may be maintained, an inlet connection to said filter for delivering liquid to be illtered thereto, means connected to said valve for supplying operating pressure iluid thereto, and a connection between said inlet and said last named means for operating the last named means by pressure of incoming liquid to be 1teredand means for delivering the leakage from said hydraulically actuated valve to said annular channel.

10. In a lter, a rotary drum, a filtering belt passing partially around the periphery of the drum, an inlet connection to said filter for delivering liquid to be illtered thereto, a dished sealing plate presenting a concave surface to the inner surface of the remainder of the periphery of said drum and having its outer edge conforming with the periphery of the drum to effect sealing contact between said edge and the periphery of the drum, iluid actuated means for yieldably pressing said plate radially outwardly against said periphery, means for supplying fiuid to said y iluid actuated means, and a connection between said inlet and said iluid supplying means for operating the fluid supplying means by pressure of incoming liquid to be iiltered.

.. NICOLAI H. HILLER. EDWARD B. MCCABE. 

